Ving Tsun
Ving Tsun is an old Chinese form of boxing that has the
meaning "beautiful springtime". According to a
legend this is the name of two women who are said to have
developed this art of fighting and self-defence out of
their experiences from training-sessions with monks of
the Shaolin-temple. One of their conclusions is that the
mastering of techniques by combattants on the same level
and with the same state of mentality leads to the fact
that the winner is always the one with higher physical
strength. Due to this in all martial-arts which are
practiced as sports there is a graduation into weight
classes.
In order to cope with the predominance of mere physical
strength under the influence of the Dao a self-defence
system was elaborated that reduces this physical
unbalance.
The Ving-Tsun-system is based on 12 basic movements. In
favour of a greater effectivity and safety of the
defendant straight movements are preferred to of artistic
movements i.e. kicks to the head or rather complicated
turning techniques. At the same time Ving Tsun can easier
be learned and leads faster to a success. A further
training of basic techniques results in higher precision
and quickness.
Ving Tsun acts on the assumption that the defendant
reacts on swinging fist-attacks and semi-circle kicks
with short and straight-forward counter-attacks.
The pyramid of
effectivity
1st form: Siu-Nim-Tau
Siu-Nim-Tau means in English "small" or "young idea". The pupil will be taught all standing movements, which are essential for fighting. In this form of training all gymnastic elements are linked together with basic techniques of Ving Tsun and techiques that strengthen the body.
2nd form: Cham-Kiu
The term Cham-Kiu can be translated with "looking for bridges". In this second form the students are studying leg-techniques in the first instance, for the opponents is not static but moving as well. Furthermore it is intended to recognize in Cham-Kiu the plans of the opponent with the intention of using his techniques for one's own purpose.
A characteristic feature of Ving Tsun is that it is
renouncing artistic movements i.e. ballet-like kicks to
the head of the opponent as well as kicks while jumping
or punches around the entire axle of the own body. That's
to say all techniques are eliminated that unfavorably
influence the own balance.
The wooden dummy (Mak Jongg)
A frequent instrument used for training is a wooden dummy with more arms, one to three, against which coordination, precision and quickness can be trained effectively. This instrument is commonly known by Hong-Kong-martial-arts-productions. The training with the dummy should not be negelcted. The dummy on the left side is a production of a school of Kung-Fu named Lo Man Kam Wing Chun Kung Fu in Marburg / Germany.
Weapons in Wing Tsun
In Wing Tsun only two weapons are used. One of them is a butterfly-knife with a length of 40-50 cm; the other is a long stick with a length up to 2,25 m.